Abstract:

This paper’s aim is to introduce the results of the research conducted by our team during 2014. It’s goal was to discover which competencies are needed to successfully manage a succession process in family owned businesses. We conducted an exploratory research, it’s design was transversal. Semi-directive interviews were realized and the literature review was conducted. The sample type used to select interviewees and organizations was no probabilistic and conveniencie sample technics were used. Sixteen directives from fourteen organizations were interviewed. Content analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Four perspectives were used to build the theoretical framework. The perspectives of process and systems co-existence were used to study the succession process. Boyatzis’s directive competencies model was used to work with the competencies. Finally, multiple conditions approach was needed to define family business as a type of organization where family members are part of management and ownership, there has been at least one generational succession and there is an interaction between the family and business systems. The research’s results present a set of nineteen competencies which ease the interaction between family and business systems to produce a successful succession process.